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San Bruno, CA - The West Coast Conference (WCC) recently launched one of its most monumental strategic television initiatives. With partner ESPN, the WCC spearheaded an international television package that would broadcast a total of 23 men's basketball games on ESPN Australia, ESPN HD Australia, ESPN Pacific Rim, and ESPN New Zealand. This is the first time that the WCC television schedule has ever extended beyond North America.

"We are very fortunate to work with ESPN, who is dedicated to helping the WCC extend our brand, and the distribution of these games in a very important overseas market does just that," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "The fact that we have such considerable Australian representation in WCC men's basketball makes this international television schedule even more meaningful."

Currently, there are seven Aussies on the WCC men's basketball roster, representing Loyola Marymount, Saint Mary's, and Santa Clara. All eight WCC men's basketball programs will be a part of the 23-game package, including 15 appearances by Saint Mary's and 2008 Australian Olympian Patty Mills.

The international television package includes five games matching up 2008 NCAA Tournament participants: Saint Mary's at San Diego (Jan. 22), Saint Mary's at Gonzaga (Jan. 29), Memphis at Gonzaga (Feb. 7), Gonzaga at Saint Mary's (Feb. 12), and San Diego at Saint Mary's (Feb. 19). Also included in the package will be a live broadcast of the semifinals and finals of the WCC Men's Basketball Championships to be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

"We are excited to bring great college sports programming to Australian and New Zealand sports fans via exclusive coverage of the WCC Men's Basketball," said Mike Morrison, ESPN ASIA PACIFIC Vice President and General Manager. "This acquisition is another step in ESPN's ongoing commitment to provide exclusive programming with local relevance to both Australia and New Zealand."

West Coast ConferenceThe West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics, with 13 conference-sponsored sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball. The WCC is characterized by the stability of its membership - only two conference have been together longer - and its unique emphasis on combining excellence in athletics with excellence in academics.

ESPN AustraliaESPN launched in Australia in August 1991. ESPN Australia is well known for its unmatched coverage of US sports, NFL, SUPER BOWL, NBA BASKETBALL, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Indy Car Series Racing as well as NCAA American College Football, Basketball, Breeders Cup and X GAMES. ESPN's European Football coverage brings Australian fans UEFA Champions League, Spanish Football, Italian Serie A Football and UEFA CUP. ESPN Australia has increased local relevance by the launch of SportsCenter Aus/NZ in January 2007 and Pardon the Interruption Australia launched in July 2003.